Peer Reviewed

A research team at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) has developed a new optical corner detection imaging method, which uses azimuthal Hilbert transform metasurfaces and is designed to work as a universal framework. The study marks an important advance in high-speed, low-power optical information processing and has demonstrated potential for motion tracking applications.

Revised techniques reveal bone loss in shoulder replacements

Ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) has a higher prevalence among East Asian women and is characterized by poor clinical outcomes. An interdisciplinary team led by Professor Ruby Yun-Ju Huang at National Taiwan University College of Medicine has established a comprehensive spatial atlas of OCCC, revealing how distinct tumor cell populations are organized within the same tumor and identifying a key molecular regulator of tumor plasticity.

Researchers from National Taiwan University (NTU) and National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH) have developed an injectable antioxidant hydrogel that protects retinal neurons and promotes visual recovery following acute optic nerve injury.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for roughly 15–20% of all breast cancer cases and is difficult to treat. Patients are often left with chemotherapy as their only treatment option. This is because TNBC tumors contain a large number of T cells that suppress the immune system. Yet researchers from Tohoku University have come up with a three-pronged approach to overcome this problem.

Researchers from National Taiwan University and Taipei Veterans General Hospital developed an AI system that automatically measures spinal curvature from X-rays. The system remained accurate when tested on images from a different institution, showing potential for more consistent scoliosis assessment across hospitals.

Linked studies reveal fish-based contamination in pet foods and paired serum-food evidence for feline exposure

Researchers from the University of Osaka and Diponegoro University developed an AI-powered navigation system for cyborg cockroaches. Using onboard sensors and a multilayer perceptron, the system recognizes flat ground, climbs, descents, and holes in real time, then adapts electrical stimulation accordingly. By supporting natural climbing while reducing unnecessary steering, the approach shortened obstacle-crossing and total navigation times, reduced travel distance and stimulation, and significantly improved efficient movement across complex terrain.

New behavioural economics research on gender and competition, using bidding experiments, finds no overall gender gap in competitiveness; where a gap does appear, it is women who push hardest for the highest positions.

Original coconut-blend fuel performed similarly to jet fuel with reduced hydrocarbon emissions

Scientists have identified submillimeter gray matter nuclei in the human brain involved in the distinct stages of processing information when making rapid, high-stakes decisions. These findings provide critical insights for precise targeting of the neural substrates that govern human choice behavior.

Researchers from the University of Osaka have developed a new class of chiral semiconducting polymers that can generate highly spin-polarized electrical currents. The team’s unique molecular design allows the polymers to self-assemble into helical structures that efficiently filter electron spins, offering a promising platform for future spintronic devices and clean-energy technologies.

Researchers at the University of Osaka discovered that people who reach extreme old age have an unusual immune system. Around the age of 100, they develop large numbers of rare immune cells that resemble those seen in people fighting cancer, allowing them to remain highly active in their supercentenarian years. The findings suggest that the immune system can adapt with age and may help protect some people from disease to support exceptional longevity.

In a global first, Hiroshima University researchers demonstrate that food processing liquid waste can be used and reused to produce two omega-3 fatty acids by the cultivation of Aurantiochytrium sp., a marine microorganism.

Feeding bacteria a cheap agricultural by-product enables the production of high-value biomaterials with promising biomedical and industrial applications.

Researchers at the University of Osaka, Shimane University, and Kyoto Sangyo University have now theoretically identified an unusual pattern of vibrations that emerges just before a crystal made of regularly arranged grains yields. Many vibrational modes soften simultaneously along particular directions, while long-wavelength waves travel more slowly than shorter ones. The findings reveal a possible physical precursor to failure in highly ordered particulate materials.

- A joint research team led by Professor Ji Won Um and researchers from Stanford University develops LATeNT, a novel optical control platform. - A single light stimulus enables sustained inhibition followed by complete recovery within 24 hours—a next-generation optical control switch that overcomes existing limitations - Successfully identifies the causes of brain disorders and controls insulin secretion, with the findings published in the world-renowned journal Nature Methods

- Demonstrates target detection performance approaching 100%, with errors of less than 1 m even during high-speed driving and under adverse conditions - Expected applications across various mobility fields, including autonomous vehicles, connected cars, and drones - Published in the internationally renowned journal IEEE Wireless Communications Letters

A new auxetic composite sandwich improved vibration damping by up to eightfold while avoiding the added thickness and external limiters often used in passive isolation systems.

It’s a fish-eat-fish world out there. A new model by researchers at Tohoku University’s WPI-AIMEC and JAMSTEC may help us better understand these complex ocean relationships. Don’t forget: this food chain involves us too!

A recent study has tracked survivors of the Great East Japan Earthquake over a 15-year period, discovering that continuous monitoring of mental-health care is critical for early intervention.

A team led by researchers from the University of Osaka has used acoustic tweezers to analyze the mechanical properties of biopolymer droplets without needing to physically touch the material. Using this method, the team investigated the stiffness of condensates of a model biopolymer. This technique will further the knowledge of biopolymer droplets and their roles in cellular biology, and may lead to the discovery of novel methods of treating diseases caused by the dysfunction of these droplets.

Finding new species in unassuming settings brings light to further exploration and conservation efforts to preserve the unique diversity in groundwater environments

Inspired by pumped-storage hydropower, a nickel-based redox reservoir enables spontaneous nitrile synthesis in organic solvents, while hydrogen gas is produced separately.

Mitochondrial protein in brain neurons found to regulate appetite and body weight

The study aims to provide more insight for approaches to digital detox and addressing smartphone dependence, highlighting moving beyond restricting device use and more psychological interventions.

A three-year atmospheric study in central Taiwan finds that organic particles, formed largely from reactive vapors such as those released by industrial solvents, have overtaken the sulfate and nitrate salts from vehicle and factory exhaust as the leading cause of hazy skies. Because the region's air chemistry is "VOC-limited," cutting nitrogen oxide emissions from traffic alone can actually worsen nitrate haze, making industrial solvent control the more effective lever for clearer air.

1. Developed pH-responsive modified starch granules to protect unstable bioactive compounds, e.g. ellagic acid. 2. Providing the shielding and successfully minimized leakage under simulated gastric conditions (pH 1.2) and achieved high-efficiency, controlled liberation in simulated intestinal fluid (pH 6.8) for targeted releasing.

• Engineered a DHB prodrug-based oral nano-emulsion with enhanced bioavailability, dramatically improving the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade therapy

A spinout from the University of Osaka is developing a slim, lightweight, single-use endoscope designed specifically for gastric cancer screening. By simplifying conventional endoscope design, the device aims to reduce patient discomfort, lower costs, and lessen the burden on healthcare professionals. Its disposable format removes the need for cleaning and disinfection, while future integration with AI and digital platforms could support more accessible and efficient screening.